In a state where the confederate flag still holds prominence, South Carolina has become the center of racial tension yet again.
On the evening of June 17, nine people were killed in Charleston’s historically Black Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church (Emmanuel A.M.E.). 21 year-old Dylann Roof, who prayed with worshipers for an hour before killing them, confessed to the shooting last Friday.
He reportedly reloaded his gun up to five times and at the end of his shooting all victims were dead with one person spared.
He is reported to have told them: “You rape our women and you’re taking over our country. You have to go.”
The victims were Rev. Clementa Pinckney, 41; Tywanza Sanders, 26; Cynthia Hurd, 54; Rev. Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, 45; Myra Thompson, 59; Ethel Lance, 70; Rev. Daniel Simmons, 74; Rev. DePayne Middleton-Doctor, 49, and Susie Jackson, 87, were identified on June 18.
Pinckney was the church’s lead pastor and a state senator representing South Carolina's 45th District. He was elected to the state House at age 23, making him the youngest House member at the time.
President Barack Obama held a press conference to address the shooting and give his condolences to the victims.
“The fact that this took place in a black church obviously also raises questions about a dark part of our history. This is not the first time that black churches have been attacked. And we know that hatred across races and faiths pose a particular threat to our democracy and our ideals,” said Obama.
This isn’t the first time Charleston has been in the news. Just ten weeks ago, a North Charleston police shot down an unarmed Black man named Walter Scott. Officer Michael T. Slager fatally shot Scott in the back after a tail light stop. He was later charged with murder following the emergence of video footage showing the incident with Scott.
The incidents occurred 12 miles apart from one another, and both Slager and Roof are being held in the Administrative Segregation Unit in the Charleston County detention center.
“I refuse to act as if this is the new normal or to pretend that it’s simply sufficient to grieve, and that any mention of us doing something to stop it is somehow politicizing the problem,” Obama said at a speech before the U.S. Conference of Mayors in San Francisco.
Charleston has a long and storied history of racial tension, dating back to the beginning of slavery. Some of 70% of African slaves were brought to America and shipped to Charleston’s port. Making the city a breeding ground for the cruel treatment to African Americans.
Founded in 1822, Emanuel A.M.E. is the oldest Black church in the South. The church was founded as a pillar of hope and a place of escape from the dehumanizing racism Blacks in the South faced from predominately white churches.
The church massacre have caused racial tension in the city to resurface; and Roof's murders will be charged as a hate crime. As the case unravels in court soon, the Confederate flag is brings up concerns about the institutionalized glory of racist roots.
During slavery, the Confederate flag was the battle flag of proslavery traitors who refused to accept election results of a then mandated desegregated nation. The flag became a symbol of slavery, treason and a threat of intimidation to African Americans who wanted to practice their rights during and after the Civil War.
Many want the flag to be removed from the state capitol and some Republicans in the area are defending the right of South Carolina to fly it. However, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley announced her call to remove the flag from the state capitol on June 22.
“The murderer, now locked up in Charleston, said he hoped his actions would start a race war. We have an opportunity to show that not only was he wrong, but that just the opposite is happening,” Haley said. “My hope is that by removing a symbol that divides us, we can move our state forward in harmony, and we can honor the nine blessed souls who are now in heaven.”
On Friday, June 26, President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will travel to attend Pinckney’s funeral, according the Office of the Press Secretary. Obama will give the eulogy at the funeral. Funeral services for the other eight victims will be held the same week according to Emanuel AME Church’s interim pastor.
L.A. Faith Leaders React to Charleston Tragedy
By Cora Jackson-Fossett
Religion Editor
The horrific murders at Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, South Carolina drew quick reaction throughout Southern California, especially amongst members of the faith community.
Prayer vigils crossed denominational lines as African Methodists, Baptists, the Jewish faith, United Methodists and independent ministries issued calls for members to collectively appeal to God for peace and consolation for the families of the victims. In addition, hundreds of people gathered on June 18 at First A.M.E. Church (FAME) for the prayer vigil jointly sponsored by FAME and Temple Isaiah.
The tragedy has raised questions surrounding church security and the potential of white-on-black hate crimes occurring in other houses of worship. However, many clergy have cautioned that the response must be approached with balance and non-discrimination.
“The church would not be living up to biblical principles if we would have some kind of closed-door to other ethnic groups. Out of one blood, God made all nations,” said Bishop T. Larry Kirkland, Sr., presiding prelate of the Fifth District of the A.M.E. Church.
“We want to be open and welcome to ‘whosoever will come.’ At the same time, we must have people who are observant and watching.”
“The church needs to be prepared. When I was pastor of Brookins Community A.M.E. Church, we had an organization of retired law enforcement officials and they watched everything,” he said.
The Rev. Xavier L. Thompson, president of the Baptist Ministers Conference of Los Angeles and Southern California, noted that the Body of Christ and faith-based community will have to make appropriate adjustments to minister to the people during these tough times.
“Government and other agencies made adjustments after 9/11. It is incumbent upon the church that we also be wise and adjust. It’s a delicate walk. While we’re here to serve the community and society, we can increase security without compromising or discriminating against others. We have to do it due to the times we live in,” Thompson, who is also pastor of Southern Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, said.
For many faith leaders, responding to this crisis requires a delicate approach.
“The Bible says, ‘Whosoever come, let them come,’ so we must not allow terrorists to change the method that God has given us to bring in new converts into the kingdom of heaven. The terrorists win when they use the weapon of fear to change the context of our worship,” insisted Pastor Mark E. Whitlock, Jr., of Christ Our Redeemer A.M.E. Church in Irvine.
“I’m not suggesting that we should not have security. We must have security in light of events such as the World Trade Center being blown up. But, we must not be uncomfortable with people of different races, cultures, or religions. Once we do that, then we have become victims of terrorists,” he added.
In place of fear, religious leaders urged faith, courage and perseverance in the fight against hate.
“We’ve had strong, strong struggles and if we continue to struggle, things will get better. You must have faith and believe,” Kirkland said.
I tell our people, ‘Don’t panic. We’ve been here before.’ We dealt with Martin Luther King being murdered in Memphis and the four girls murdered in 16th Street Church (in Birmingham, AL). We survived and we are still going to survive. Don’t give up the faith. God is still alive.”
Pastor Rosalynn Brookins of Walker Temple A.M.E. Church said, “We are a people of great faith and resilience. As the days come and go, let us hold fast to the thought so commonly used by the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, ‘that we shall someday overcome.’”
“We draw strength from the history and resiliency of Mother Emanuel AME Church. Moreover, we draw assurance from the name and meaning of ‘Emmanuel,’ God is with us! No act of destruction or dehumanization can deprive us from divine accompaniment,” declared Pastor Kelvin Sauls of Holman United Methodist Church.
“No ideology or theology can separate us from divine solidarity. With troubled and tumultuous hearts, let us renew our focus and fortitude to continue to build a global movement of non-violent resistance from this intersection of mutual pain. Now more than ever, black lives matter!”
Ministers also encouraged people to view the tragedy in a spiritual context and learn from it. Thompson said, “This is bigger than just black and white. We’re in a contest between good and evil.
“The scriptures remind us in Ephesians 6 that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers. This is a spiritual fight.
“My prayer is that we will experience a healing in the land because the land is sick. We need God to heal our land as it says in 2 Chronicles 7:14. Jesus is the answer to the woes that we have.”
Offering similar insight, Pastor Velma Union of The Lord’s Church said, “With this act, God is warning the Church that if we, as God’s people, will humble ourselves and pray, and turn from our ways that seem right to man, and pray, then the same God who caused Barack Obama to be president will heal this land.”